- You could be forgiven for feeling a little confused today about what was - or wasn't - said by Prime Minister David Cameron about his stance on a free vote in the EU referendum. Speaking at a press conference in Germany during the G7 summit, he denied saying ministers will be forced to back him in the EU referendum or quit their jobs. So was it a "media muddle" or a political climbdown? Make up your mind by reading our top story . 

- Meanwhile, in the House of Commons, MPs backed  the Scotland Bill  at second reading. The Bill would give Holyrood control over income tax rates and bands, a half share in VAT revenues and a greater say over welfare powers in Scotland - but the SNP says it falls short in almost every way. The debate is due to last four days.

- Defence Secretary Michael Fallon says the government hopes to conclude its latest strategic defence and security review by the end of the year. The 2010 review was criticised by many for failing to anticipate uprisings and subsequent conflicts in the Middle East and the growing challenge from Russia. Mr Fallon told MPs many of the 2010 review's findings "still held good" but future threats would be addressed.

 - Conservative MP Grant Shapps says allegations made about his Wikipedia entry show that the media should vet sources more carefully. 

- Many Labour supporters were relieved the party did not win the election, acting leader Harriet Harman says . She says people lacked confidence in Labour's leadership abilities and economic credibility, and felt it had the "wrong message".

- Former footballer Sol Campell has kicked off his bid to be chosen as the Conservative party's candidate to replace Boris Johnson as Mayor of London.

- And finally, if Mr Cameron was concerned about his comments to the media being misinterpreted, he should perhaps count himself lucky that he was speaking in English, rather than in emojis, external . 

- If you want to get up to date on these issues and the rest of what's been going on in Westminster tune into BBC Radio 4 at 2330 for Today in Parliament. Parliamentary correspondent Sean Curran reports on lively exchanges during the Scotland Bill and on an urgent Home Office statement about the illegal migrants found hiding in lorries at an Essex port last week. And there's another round of maiden speeches from new MPs.

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As she begins a four-day visit to the United States, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon dropped in to a school in Brooklyn to learn how standards in Scottish schools could be improved.

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Children's fancy dress costumes should be subject to tougher fire safety regulations, MPs say.

A Parliamentary petition says classifying the outfits as clothing rather than toys would "significantly reduce the risk" of accidents.

The MPs say there has been an increase in the number of children hospitalised from costumes catching fire.

Read more here.

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Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed a statement in the final G7 summit communique which calls for all sides in the Ukraine conflict to respect ceasefire deals agreed in the Belarus capital, Minsk.

He said: "The G7 is united on what needs to happen next to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. 

"Existing sanctions must remain is place until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented. This will require action from both Ukraine and Russia. 

"That's why it's vital we ensure (Ukrainian) President Poroshenko's government has the support needed to deliver the necessary political and economic reforms. But we must not forget that the Ukrainians are the victims, not the aggressors." 

Former journalist Baroness Wheatcroft brought a splash of colour to the House of Lords this afternoon. She wore the vibrant coat to the reading of The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill. 

Former Conservative cabinet minister Owen Paterson says that normal political activity should effectively be "suspended" in the run-up to the European referendum to ensure the British public is not bombarded with pro-EU information.

He tells the BBC News Channel he would back a "purdah period" of longer than a month, restricting what the government, councils and the European Union could announce in the way of policy that was likely to have any bearing on the vote. 

There need to be "fair arrangements on money and fair arrangements on the public distribution of information" in the referendum or else it will a leave a "very sour taste", he says.

Conservative MP John Redwood says he "never misunderstood" David Cameron over the issue of Europe and ministerial responsibilities . 

He tells the BBC the prime minister had an "absolute right" to expect a "cohesive and unified" party behind him during negotiations on the UK's membership of the EU. 

He suggests it could be a "different" story during the referendum campaign itself but this depends entirely on what kind of deal Mr Cameron comes back with. The problem could lie, he says, if the outcome of the negotiations is "muddled". 

Mr Redwood also says a new group of Tory MPs urging an "ambitious" re-negotiation could have the support of 200 colleagues, arguing that the UK must be free in future to negotiate its own trade deal with the likes of India, China and the United States.

Former chief whip Andrew Mitchell says David Cameron's position on allowing a free vote on whether to stay in the European Union is now "fairly clear" and that there is "an acceptance of the importance of not whipping people on the referendum".

Mr Mitchell added: "It's important everyone supports the prime minister's renegotiation strategy - he's very good at this sort of thing - and I expect these negotiations to go extremely well.

"But then people should be able to follow their convictions and their conscience on how they campaign and how they vote and I think many of us have yet to make up our minds on how we would vote in that referendum - it would depend on the renegotiation. 

"But once the renegotiation is out of the way it should be a genuine referendum where every voice can be heard and then the British public can make up their minds."

James Landale
Deputy political editor

What is it about the Conservative Party and the European Union? What is it that prompts such passion, such muddle and - on occasion - such bitterness?  

The relationship between Britain and the EU tore the Conservatives apart for years in government and in opposition.

David Cameron was elected leader 10 years ago on a promise to stop his party banging on about Europe. A decade on, the prime minister has got his drum sticks out and is banging his way around Europe. But not all his party is marching to his beat.

More from James here.

Image source, Reuters

Grant Shapps has said allegations made about his Wikipedia entry show that the media should vet its sources more carefully. 

Wikipedia has censured a volunteer administrator, who claimed that an account "either run by Shapps directly" or by someone else "but under his clear direction" was used to alter Mr Shapps' entry on the website. 

The Conservative MP said: "Wikipedia's investigation has resulted in the strong disciplinary action now being taken. 

"However, the failure of various media outlets to check even basic facts meant that this false and damaging story ran for an entire day during the general election campaign. 

"My hope is that this case serves as a reminder that both the source, as well as the content of a story, should be carefully checked before it is broadcast in future."

Image source, PA

A referendum on UK membership of the European Union should not be held on the same day as the assembly elections in 2016, the Welsh government has said.

There is speculation the date in May is being considered by the UK government.

A spokesman for Labour's First Minister Carwyn Jones claimed it would limit the ability of pro-EU parties to have a "genuine referendum strategy".

Plaid Cymru peer Lord Elis-Thomas broke ranks with his party on Sunday by saying the move could boost turnout.

Read more here.

The Scotland Bill debate is going to last for four days. David Mundell says that all angles and all parties will be listened to.

He has paid tribute to the 10 members of the Smith Commission, saying they represented their parties constructively.

He also thanked Lord Smith of Kelvin, who chaired the Commission, and everyone who submitted views to the Commission.

More from the House of Commons.The Scotland Bill is being debated on a "line-by-line basis", says Scottish Secretary David Mundell. 

The SNP's Ian Blackford says that the election of 56 SNP MPs at the general election proves that the people of Scotland want a "powerhouse parliament with full economic powers". 

David Mundell once again replies that the SNP signed up to the Smith Commission proposals after last year's referendum. An amendment to the Bill tabled by the SNP was not selected for debate.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell tells the House that the Scotland Bill delivers in full the Smith Commission on more devolved powers. 

His "feet will be put to the fire" on this important legislation. But the SNP says the Bill falls short in almost every way. 

MPs are now debating the Scotland Bill at its second reading in the House of Commons. There is full coverage of that here .

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A bit more on David Cameron's comments on the UK's role in global affairs. He said it was yet to be decided whether future defence spending would meet the Nato target of 2% of GDP. 

"The idea that Britain is shrinking its role in the world when our flagship is saving lives in the Mediterranean, when we are training the Iraqi army, training Afghan officers, our jets are flying air patrolling missions over the Baltic, our submarines are silently patrolling the seas giving us a nuclear deterrent 365 days of the year, we're ordering two of the largest aircraft carriers that the Navy has ever had.... 

"The idea that this £160bn equipment budget that we protected by inflation, that that represents strategic shrinkage, I think is nonsense."